USF faculty union plans push with cash

Posted Nov 29, 2011 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Nov 29, 2011 at 12:30 PM

USF’s faculty union sees trouble with the Legislature this session, an “unprecedented danger,” in the words of UFF’s spokesman at USF, Gregory McColm.

So it’s planning an “unprecedented push.”

The union has put out a special call for donations to the Political Action Committee of the union, United Faculty of Florida, so it can reinforce its pro-education message with some cash.

“While there are many moderates – in both parties – who support education (and in particular, higher education), the current legislative and executive leadership in Tallahassee has grown increasingly hostile,” McColm wrote in an email.

The union “is reaching out to legislators who appear inclined to support the public interest and the interests of their constituents over the obsessions of their leadership.”

The obsession he’s talking about is Gov. Rick Scott’s focus on higher education, as the legislative session approaches.

Scott’s asking lots of questions about what professors do and how much they get paid.

The union is seeking the donations because it can’t use dues money for campaign contributions.

Legislative politics is a messy business, and not the kind of thing most professors like to engage in, but “we have to be practical,” says UFF’s pitch.